Frequently Asked Questions

Radiator output is always measured in exactly the same way so as long as you match the outputs you will have the same amount of heat. What is generally meant when asking this is, will they be of a similar size to a current or proposed panel radiator? This will be true of most of our cast iron radiators but some of the smaller column sizes may need extra sections to provide a matching heat output.

Cast iron is a very dense material and the extra heat it takes to warm it is not lost the radiator will deliver this energy back to the room for a while after the system is turned off.

A BTU (British Thermal Unit) or Watt (metric equivalent) is the unit of energy used to measure heat output. This is used to give you a figure for the amount of heat (heat loss) required for a room. We can quickly calculate your heat output requirements by asking you a few simple questions i.e. the rooms dimensional information including the number of outside walls and their construction (cavity/solid/insulated etc.) the floor type and what type of room it is (bedroom/living etc.) or simply fill in our BTU form and we will get back to you with your required outputs.

Sections are the individual elements making up the overall length of the radiator and columns are generally referred to as the number of vertical tubular columns when viewing the end of the radiator.

It takes time and care to custom build your cast iron radiator. We hand-build your cast iron radiator section by section to your individual requirements then we finish it with your paint options and effects. Paladin currently offers a one week lead time for our metals range of finishes, and a two week lead time for all other effects. Polishing however is a very intensive manufacturing process and whilst we usually offer three week availability this is subject to the current workload in this department. When you place your order with us, we will provide you with delivery date options. View our delivery options page for more information.

Installation of cast iron radiators does need some consideration primarily their weight but all other aspects are as per usual for the fitting of the brackets, valves and pipe work. Your system can have one cast iron radiator added as a feature or every room can be fitted with cast iron radiators. Our radiators can be fitted into conventional open vented or sealed central heating systems.

We strongly recommend you use a qualified plumber or heating engineer to install your radiators.

Every Paladin radiator is individually built and finished to order, there is nothing ‘off the shelf’ about our radiators. Every cast iron radiator is a unique piece with its own personality.

You can view our cast iron radiators at our showroom at Paladin Radiators, Langrick Road, New York, Lincolnshire, LN4 4XH. Please telephone 01205 280354 or email us sales@paladinradiators.com for an appointment.

Thermostatic radiator valves (TRV’s) will automatically adjust the volume of hot water (flow) and therefore the temperature of the radiator as the room temperature changes depending on what temperature it has been set to. A manual radiator valve will give you a constant output regardless of the room conditions. A thermostatic radiator valve gives you the option to keep living rooms at a comfortable constant heat and occasional rooms such as bedrooms at a lower heat. They are recommended to be fitted as an energy saving device.

We love our Paladin Metals and effects ranges but if you have a particular colour in mind, we will match it, mix it and paint it. We also offer genuine Farrow and Ball paints and can mix from a RAL or BS reference or to any colour of your choice with our colour matching service.

You can also choose an Antiqued or Highlighted Effect option. Our talented craftsmen emphasise the beautiful moulded detail of the ornate cast iron radiators by hand.

Paladin cast iron radiators work very well with natural heat sources as they can be precisely sized to match the typically lower flow temperatures of these appliances to give you the outputs required.

Your Paladin cast iron radiators will arrive on a pallet via a pallet courier.  The delivery is to the nearest accessible external hard standing, movement thereafter is by others. The radiators will need handling very carefully off the pallet and into position. Paladin provides a help sheet with every order to ensure your radiator is handled correctly during installation. See our delivery options page for more information or call us on 01205 280354.

We strongly recommend you wait until your radiators are delivered before setting pipe work in place however we are happy to provide you with first fix information and usually all is well but, due to the hand built nature of cast iron radiators, these dimensions are always provided as a guide only and we cannot accept any liability for any prior installed pipe work.

Our specialised expert hand polishing creates a particularly handsome bright finished cast iron
surface. It is lacquered to protect the surface and it will only require occasional light dusting
with a lint free cloth, no harsh or abrasive chemicals should be used. You can read more here

As default all of our radiators are floor mounted and then tied back to the wall with wall ties. You can, on request, however have your radiator wall mounted, just let us know at the time of ordering. Please ensure the wall is suitable for this type of mounting. Call us on 01205 280354 for more information.

Valves - You will need one pair per radiator. We offer a comprehensive range of manual or thermostatic valves. View our valves and accessories page

Air Vents - Our brass air vent is fitted as standard and we also offer a range of luxury finished vents. View our valves and accessories page

Wall stays - All of the weight of the radiator is through the floor however to prevent any movement of the radiator and for safety you should always fit wall stays. View our range of wall stays

We recommend:

Pipe sleeves - View our range of pipe sleeves

Bush ends - This is an optional purchase to finish off your cast iron radiator. All our cast iron radiators come with standard plain cast iron bush ends however, if you want to add an opulent touch, we have a range of unique ornate cast iron bush ends. Note: These are fitted as standard on the Piccadilly and Shaftesbury ranges. View our range of ornate bush ends

A wall stay is a bracket that ties your cast iron radiator to the wall. The radiators stand on the floor but to stop any lateral movement and for safety reasons you should always fit the recommended number of wall ties. View our range of wall stays

You can use your existing pipe work and a radiators can be built to fit as close as possible but it will always require your plumber to make the final adjustments to the pipe work. In general the final pipe work connection to the radiator is in 15mm copper however we also offer 22mm valves and ½ or ¾” bsp connections for steel pipe work on some of our ranges.

All our radiators come with a comprehensive ten-year guarantee (it’s two years on valves and accessories including electrical components) but always be sure to follow all current installation regulations and in particular the system should be cleaned, flushed and dosed with a suitable high quality inhibitor in accordance with BS7593.

Our friendly and helpful Paladin Sales Team will discuss any practical issues directly with your plumber or heating engineer if required please call 01205 280354.

We can provide on request, a specification sheet for your plumber or heating engineer which provides all measurements needed for installation. Contact us for a specification sheet today. Call us on 01205 280354 or email us

As all Paladin radiators are bespoke built we usually require full payment with your order. We accept all major cards (currently excepting AMEX) or you can also pay via BACS.